The princes who were about to rise remained frozen in place.
The ministers, whose smiles had not yet faded, widened their eyes.
What had they just heard?
Had they misheard?
"General Xue's illness is no trifling matter, how dare you speak such nonsense here!" Master Tong was the first to reprimand angrily.
Ji Zizhao, however, looked at the Xue family's old madam beside her and said, "General Xue's illness came on suddenly, but it is not an incurable disease. As long as the old madam agrees, I will write a prescription now, and General Xue will surely show improvement by the end of today."
Master Tong's chest heaved with anger. How dare this disrespectful person ignore him!
However, what she said truly touched the old madam Xue.
"You, you mean my son is not suffering from an epidemic?"
"When the plague appeared in Luoyi, I happened to be there and saw the plague victims with my own eyes. I can therefore be certain that General Xue's symptoms are different from those of the plague victims."
This statement not only astonished the old madam Xue but also sent a tremor through everyone in the main hall.
Those who were in Luoyi at the time, and were still in the county town now, had not heard of a female physician accompanying them.
The old madam Xue looked at Ji Zizhao dazedly, "Are you from Luoyi?"
Ji Zizhao shook her head, "I am from the Imperial City."
At this, Master Tong could no longer stand it. "Utter nonsense! When the Emperor ordered people to be sent to Luoyi, everyone was recorded. I have never heard of such a person as you!"
Xie Jinglan had initially not wanted Ji Zizhao to get involved. But seeing the current situation, this girl seemed determined not to withdraw. Although he found it a bit troublesome, he still spoke up, "Minister Tong misunderstands. This person is the eldest daughter of the Ji family, and also the Princess Ronghe, personally enfeoffed by the Emperor. She was indeed sent to Luoyi by imperial command."
Ji Zizhao: "..."
So this was Master Tong.
Master Tong: "..."
Princess Ronghe?
Ji! Zi! Zhao!!
The princes present also suddenly realized why this woman looked so familiar.
It turned out to be the eldest daughter of the Ji family, whom they had seen at the funeral of their imperial grandmother.
"I only know that the eldest daughter of the Ji family has been confined to her home since birth. Had the Ji family not encountered misfortune, the people of the Imperial City would likely not even know how many eyes the eldest daughter of the Ji family has. I never expected that the eldest daughter of the Ji family would also understand medicine. Truly, I am ignorant." Upon hearing that the person standing there was Ji Zizhao, the old madam Tong naturally became even more impolite.
It was this damned girl who incited them, almost making his family the second brothel.
The thought of the Tong family being surrounded by a group of prostitutes still made Master Tong's heart race with anger.
If not now, when would he avenge this grudge!
With these words, the old madam Xue also hesitated.
The people of the Imperial City all knew that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was once a good-for-nothing, a girl who dared not even meet people. How could she possibly understand medicine?
Her son's life was not to be gambled with by someone fooling around.
Earlier, in Xue Yongnian's room, Ji Zizhao had already performed emergency treatment on him. If this delayed him from taking his life-saving medicine, his condition might worsen.
Ji Zizhao paid no mind to Master Tong deliberately referring to her as the eldest daughter of the Ji family. To her, Princess Ronghe was not an honor, but merely a title. "I am not talented, but I studied medicine in my boudoir. When I was in Luoyi, I was fortunate enough to meet Imperial Physician Zhang, and I have now been accepted as his disciple."
The name Zhang Shuzhong was known to everyone present, without exception.
He was the chief imperial physician, responsible for the Emperor's health, and even the Empress and imperial consorts in the palace showed him respect.
The princes present looked at Ji Zizhao with a more scrutinizing gaze.
They had heard that after the Dragon Boat Festival, the Imperial Hospital would be selecting new personnel to enter the palace. Could it be that Imperial Physician Zhang was grooming the eldest daughter of the Ji family?
When the old madam Xue heard that she was a disciple of the Imperial Physician, her eyes sparkled at Ji Zizhao.
If it weren't for the princes being present, she would have eagerly dragged the girl to her son herself.
Due to Zhang Shuzhong's formidable reputation, no one in the main hall dared to question her further.
Zhang Shuzhong had been promoted to chief imperial physician by the Emperor himself. Therefore, to doubt Ji Zizhao was to doubt Zhang Shuzhong, and to doubt Zhang Shuzhong was to doubt the current Emperor.
No one dared to bear the consequences of such a chain of implications.
The physicians beside them: "..."
Thinking of the sarcastic remarks they had just made about this eldest daughter of the Ji family...
They suddenly felt like dying.
"In that case, we implore the eldest daughter of the Ji family to write the prescription." The old madam Xue busied herself with having brush, ink, paper, and inkstone brought over.
Ji Zizhao did not treat human lives lightly. She picked up her brush and wrote the prescription, and then carefully instructed the young attendant who was to fetch the medicine on the dosage and frequency of administration.
The old madam Xue, seeing Ji Zizhao's meticulousness, finally felt at ease, and even found Ji Zizhao much more pleasing to the eye.
After Ji Zizhao finished her instructions, the attendant went to fetch the medicine, and the old madam Xue took her leave.
She couldn't rest assured without personally supervising her son taking his medicine.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the attendant entered the room. He first instructed a maid to bring a chair for Ji Zizhao, and then said with a smile, "Our old madam has instructed that the eldest daughter of the Ji family is to stay for dinner."
As soon as the attendant finished speaking, everyone present showed a knowing expression.
It was true that the princes had brought people to see the patient, but it was Ji Zizhao alone who wrote the prescription and treated the illness. If anything were to go wrong, the Xue family would naturally seek out the person responsible. Therefore, they could not let Ji Zizhao leave beforehand.
The other princes, upon hearing this, all rose to leave.
Since this matter no longer concerned them, there was no need for them to stay any longer.
Master Tong and the other ministers, though they were going mad with the desire to know the final outcome, none dared to openly remain and supervise Ji Zizhao, who was now with the Fourth Prince.
Ji Zizhao naturally understood the Xue family's apprehension and remained seated.
Just as Ji Zizhao was pondering the peculiar nature of Xue Yongnian's illness and considering finding an opportunity to speak with the Fourth Prince alone, she heard the Sixth Prince's surprised voice, "Brother Four, aren't you leaving?"
Ji Zizhao followed the sound and saw that the Fourth Prince was indeed sitting calmly in his chair.
Hearing the Sixth Prince's question, Xie Jinglan had no intention of getting up. He cast a glance in Ji Zizhao's direction before replying, "My person is still here, so I will naturally stay as well."
Ji Zizhao's hand, which had just picked up a teacup, trembled, and tea spilled onto her hand.
She had come under the Fourth Prince's banner, but his words made her feel strangely awkward.
The Sixth Prince glanced at Ji Zizhao, his eyes filled with surprise for a moment.
Even if Ji Zizhao had written the prescription, it did not mean that she could truly cure General Xue's illness.
If it were any other prince, they would have already left with the crowd.
If Xue Yongnian recovered, even if they had left earlier, they could still claim credit. But if Xue Yongnian did not recover, would the one who stayed not have to bear the consequences along with Ji Zizhao?
Therefore, it was obvious that the Fourth Prince intended to share the burden with Ji Zizhao.